Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov noted the consistent growth of relations between Moscow and Dushanbe, even amid a challenging geopolitical environment. He made these remarks while opening talks in Moscow with Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin.
“Our countries are time-tested allies, building on multifaceted cooperation. [Our relations] are progressing steadily, even in the current period, when the geopolitical landscape is, to put it mildly, complex,” Lavrov stated.
He emphasized the contributions of regional cooperation and partnerships in cultural, humanitarian, and educational spheres to the relationship. “We greatly appreciate the support for projects aimed at expanding access to Russian-language education in Tajikistan. At the request of our friends, we increased the government scholarship quota for this academic year to 1,000 spots. This is one of the highest figures in our relations with foreign nations in this area,” Lavrov underlined.
Lavrov also mentioned key joint initiatives: “As directed by our presidents, an intergovernmental agreement was signed for the construction of a center for gifted children in Dushanbe, as well as a new building for the Mayakovsky Russian Drama Theater. I understand construction is set to begin very soon.”
He praised the strong coordination between the two countries in foreign policy. “We value your support in advancing Russia’s priorities during our chairmanship of the CIS last year. Starting January 1, this role has passed to Tajikistan. We support your priorities and have no doubt that your presidency will be successful,” Lavrov said.
Additionally, he acknowledged Tajikistan’s initiative to declare this year the International Year of Glaciers' Preservation. “We fully intend to participate in the thematic conference that Tajikistan will be organizing on this issue,” Lavrov concluded.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry
Based on TASS materials